Drive-chain



(Nb Model.)

P. A. POSTER.

DRIVE CHAIN.

No. 587,950. Patented Aug. 10,1897.

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WITNESSES INVBNTDR THE noSms mans co PHOTCLLITHQ. WASHINGTON, 11c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A. FOSTER, OF NORW'ICH, CONNECTICUT.

DRIVE-CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 587,950, dated August 10, 1897. Application filed January 4, 1897. Serial No. 617,904. (No model.)

To all whmn it Duty concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK A. FosTEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwich, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drive-Chains, which improvements are fully set forth and described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings.

This invention is in the class of drive-chains commonly employedv in the driving mechanism of bicycles and which shall be of such construction that the same may be assembled without the aid of special machinery or tools and which shall be separable at any point throughout its length.

To assist in explaining my invention, I have provided the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate the same, as follows:

Figure 1 shows in elevation ashort section of my improved chain. Fig. 2 is a plan view of said chain-section. Figs. 3 and 4 show in elevation and 011 a somewhat enlarged scale several'chain-links and the element provided for locking the same together, and said view serves to explain the manner of assembling said element and links. Fig. 5 is a horizontal central sectional view of several of the chain-links; and Fig. 6 illustrates said links and locking element in elevation and shows the chain rivets or pins in cross-section, said view being taken on the line w x of Fig. 5.

Chains of the class to which my invention relates are well known and therefore needno detailed description. Briefly described, however, they are made up of side and block links, the former consisting of two thin metallic members a and the latter usually of a solid link I). The ends'of links 12 are placed between the ends of the members a of the adjacent side links aand the meeting ends are overlapped to receive the pins or rivets o, by means of which the side and block links are hinged together. Other forms of links are often substituted for the block-link, but as this feature has no relation to my invention it is thought unnecessary to show such forms in connection therewith.

The members a of the side links are of the well-known form, (shown in elevation in the drawings,) and are provided with holes a near each end to receive the rivets c, and the blocklinks I) have similar holes Z) near each end for the reception of said rivets, which latter are headed at one end, as denoted by reference-letter o, and grooved circumferentially near the opposite end, as indicated by the letter 0 Reference-letter d indicates the above-referred-to locking element or member of my device, the office of the same being to prevent the accidental displacement of the rivets, and hence the disintegration of the chain. Said member cl is constructed of thin metallic stock, about equal in thickness to the width of groove 0 and is in general outline the same as the side links a.

The locking-plate cl is slotted at each end, said slots being parallel to its length, extending toward the center thereof, and are denoted by reference-letters d (1 respectively. Slot d is in width slightly greater than the diameter of the grooved portions 0 of the rivets, and its length is such that the inner end thereof, which is semicircular, forms onehalf of a hole of the same diameter as the holes a in members a. Slot d is of somewhat greater length, but preferably of less width, and is provided with a circular enlargement d of the same diameter as the grooved portions of the rivets c, which openings (1 are located in member cl at a point corresponding in position to that of the holes a in the side link a.

lVhen it is desired to assemble, a chain of my newly-invented form, a and Z) are first hinged together by means of the rivets c, which latter are prevented from endwise displacement in one direction by means of their headed portions 0 engaging the outer faces of one of the members a of each side link. Rivets c are of such length that the grooved portion 0 extends outside the face of the opposite member a of the side links, and to lock said rivets in position the plate dis provided. To place said member in position, the end thereof bearing the slot d is first introduced to one of the rivets c, said slot being caused to straddle the groove, as will be understood by Fig. 3, after which member (Z is forced longitudinally until the enlargement d of slot (1 is directly over the companion rivet, at which time also the inner end of slot cl brings up against the neck of the rivet which tions thereof on opposite sides of slot (1 are sprung apart until the enlargement d of said slot is sprung over the rivet end and into clasping engagement with the neck formed by groove 0 It will now be seen that the plate d is locked upon the grooved portions of the rivets 0 so securely that accidental displacement of the plate cannot occur, and thus the rivets c are also looked against endwise displacement.

The plate d forms a light and convenient look, by the use of which the rivets of a chain, when formed as shown and described, may be locked in position and the chain may be assembled without riveting and without special machinery.

To dissemble my chain, it will be obvious that the operation will be the reverse of that just described.

My invention as a whole provides a chain equal in durability to those now in use while it embodies the desirable feature of being capable of being put together without special machinery, which feature is particularly desirable in repairing a broken chain on the road, and at the same time it is no more expensive to produce than chains of this class now in common use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- In combination, in a drive-chain, side and center links as set forth, studs connecting the same having a head at one end and a circumferential groove at the other end and a locking device of spring material bifurcated at its opposite ends to engage said grooves, the Walls of said bifurcations being parallel and one of the bifurcations being longer than the other and each wall of said longer bifurcation being provided intermediate its ends with enlargements to allow said looking-plate l to be sprung over the pin. end and engage, 5

therewith, substantially as specified.

FRANK A. FOSTER.

Witnesses: FRANK H. ALLEN, MAY F. RITCHIE. 

